Sex differences in electrolyte imbalances caused by SARS-CoV-2: a case-control study Arianna Pani, MD*1, Elvira Inglese*2, Massimo Puoti, MD3, Valeria Cento, MD. PhD1, Claudia Alteri, PhD1, Alessandra Romandini1, MD1, Federica Di Ruscio, MD2, Michele Senatore1, MD, Mauro Moreno, MD4, Paolo Tarsia, MD5, Fabrizio Colombo, MD6, Oscar Massimiliano Epis, MD7, Valentina Panetta8, Chiara Vismara2, Andrea Bellone, MD9 and Francesco Scaglione, MD, PhD1,2 *These two authors equally contributed 1Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; E-mail: arianna.pani@unimi.it; E-mail: valeria.cento@unimi.it; E-mail: claudia.alteri@unimi.it; E-mail: alessandra.romandini@unimi.it Email: michele.senatore@unimi.it2SC Clinical Chemistry and Microbiology, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy; E-mail: elvira.inglese@ospedaleniguarda.it; E-mail: federica.diruscio@unimi.it; Email:chiara.vismara@ospedaleniguarda.it; E-mail: francesco.scaglione@unimi.it3Infectious Diseases Unit, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy;E-mail: massimo.puoti@ospedaleniguarda.it4Healthcare Management Department, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy; E-mail: mauro.moreno@ospedaleniguarda.it5Pneumology Unit, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy; E-mail: paolo.tarsia@ospedaleniguarda.it6Internal Medicine Department, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy;E-mail: fabrizio.colombo@ospedaleniguarda.it7Rheumatology Unit, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy; E-mail: oscar.epis@ospedaleniguarda.it8Biostatistics office, L’altrastatistica srl -Consultancy & Training, Rome, Italy 9Emergency Department, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy;E-mail: andrea.bellone@ospedaleniguarda.it